Hong Kong turnover grows as ownership incentives continue to deliver
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has reinforced its position as one of the world's leading racing jurisdictions after recording wagering growth, expanding international betting partnerships and further strengthening incentives for horse ownership.
Total racing wagering turnover for the 2025/26 season reached HK$143.31 billion, up 3.2 percent on the previous year, marking a welcome return to growth. The increase was driven by larger field sizes and the continued expansion of the Club's international wagering strategy through commingling, simulcasting and the World Pool.
Hong Kong races attracted a record HK$34.4 billion in commingling turnover, an increase of 8.3 percent. The jurisdiction now has commingling partnerships with more than 60 operators across 26 countries, further cementing Hong Kong's status as a global wagering hub. Chinese New Year Raceday again proved a standout, generating a record HK$523.56 million in commingling turnover, the highest ever for a single race meeting.
Simulcast betting also continued to grow strongly, with turnover rising 23.5 percent to HK$16.2 billion after the Club expanded its international racing offering. During the season, Hong Kong customers were able to bet on 492 overseas races, including 99 Group 1 contests that have featured in the IFHA World's Top 100 rankings over the past three years.
The World Pool also continued its rapid expansion, increasing from 296 to 397 races across the season. The international wagering platform now encompasses all 12 Hong Kong Group 1 races alongside an expanding selection of elite races from jurisdictions including Australia, with commingling turnover on overseas World Pool races increasing by 27.7 percent.
The Club has also continued to invest heavily in attracting and retaining owners. A record HK$1.78 billion in prize money and bonuses was distributed during the season, with 150 privately purchased horses earning HK$225 million in Class 3 PP Bonuses since the enhanced scheme was introduced. Across all ownership incentive programmes, a further HK$80.5 million was paid to the owners of 59 winning horses.
The incentives have helped encourage the importation of higher-quality horses while syndicate ownership continues to flourish. Hong Kong's champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising, Horse of the Year Voyage Bubble and BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Invincible Ibis are all raced by syndicates, highlighting the growing appeal of shared ownership. The Club has responded by increasing the number of syndicates members can join from four to seven, while also lifting the maximum number of horses an owner can race from five to seven.
The investment in ownership is set to continue in 2026/27, with the introduction of a new Premier Series offering approximately HK$20 million in additional bonuses for Derby-quality imports. Combined with the existing PP Bonus Scheme, eligible privately purchased horses will be able to earn up to HK$4 million in bonuses, while prizemoney for the Hong Kong Classic Mile, Hong Kong Classic Cup and the Hong Kong Derby will also increase as the Club continues its drive to attract the world's best horses.
